Behind the Scenes: Help Choose Mel’s Official Miss FL USA Headshot

This past week I experienced the more glamorous side of pageant life during my official Miss Florida USA 2015 delegate headshot photo shoot. Let me tell you, if you have never had your makeup done professionally- do it. At least once (speaking to the women of course). I truly believe that beauty comes from within, but there’s nothing that makes my confidence glow brighter than when I’m all done up and feeling FIERCE.

Natalia & I on set in Los Cabos

One of the best things about the fashion industry is meeting amazingly talented artists. I met hair & makeup artist Natalia Parrales on a job in Exumas, Bahamas and we had the opportunity to work together numerous times including another job in Los Cabo, Mexico! I always felt so confident after she did my makeup for work that I knew she would be the one to beautify me for my official Miss Florida USA delegate headshot (the headshot, I learned, is crucial as its the first time the judges get to see you. The head shots are all in the program book and before the judges have even seen you in person they’ve scoped out your headshot!)

Natalia comes prepared. I took this photo as she was packing up… which means there was way more makeup where all this came from! I felt like a little celebrity as I sat in my own apartment, sipping on my detox tea, as she got to work on my transformation– yes… she made a house call! About an hour and a half later the transformation was complete!

Before

After!

I mean, when you can’t leave your parking lot without taking a “selfie”, you know you feel good. I won’t lie, I definitely posted this on Instagram..and may or may not have used #nofilter. Guilty. I loved my look so much that Natalia and I have planned to get together again to give me a little makeup lesson (you can look out for that post later with all the tricks and tips I learn!)

Feeling glamorous, I got on the road and headed to Margate to shoot with photographer James Young. James is such a sweetheart — I met him through a mutual friend (love this industry!) and he shot the reigning Miss Florida USA’s headshot last year. He got me right in and out! When I say I was in and out I literally mean I parked, went in, changed into my headshot outfit, James took some snaps, I changed back into my “comfy clothes” and was in my car again all in 30 minutes time. He’s that good.